Executive Director

The Fairness Project; Salt Lake City (UT); Hybrid; USD 75,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Unlimited PTO

ICHRA health reimbursement

401(k) with employer match

Job summary

Ignite! Utah is seeking an Executive Director to guide its growth, build trust, and lead fundraising efforts for Gen Z civic engagement. The role focuses on relationship-building, strategic leadership, and inclusive management to advance Utah's civic power.

You will oversee programs, coordinate with Ignite! Utah Action and Civic Spark, and manage a growing team while ensuring financial health and mission-aligned impact across communities.

Qualifications

• Gen Z and civic issues understanding.
• Civic engagement and voting importance.
• Equity principles translated into program decisions.
• Relationship-focused and reliable.
• Willing to fundraise and promote the organization.
• Inclusive leadership with team development.
• Ability to build diverse coalitions in Utah.
• Strategic and innovative thinking.
• Flexible, startup environment adaptability.

Responsibilities

• Lead Ignite! Utah strategy, annual planning, and program development.
• Advance organizational outcomes through programming, fundraising, and partnerships.
• Supervise the team and implement priorities, timelines, and accountability.
• Oversee financial health, budgets, contracts, and compliance.

Skills

Gen Z engagement

Civic engagement

Equity & inclusion

Relationship building

Fundraising

Inclusive leadership

Coalition building

Strategic thinking

Adaptability

Job description

Executive Director, Ignite! Utah

Position Title: Executive Director
Reports to: Ignite! Utah Action Board
Position Type: Full-time, exempt
Start Date: November 30, 2026
Location: Utah-based, hybrid
Compensation: $75,000–$90,000 annually, commensurate with experience
Benefits: Unlimited paid time off, Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement Arrangement (ICHRA), 401(k) including up to 4% employer match

ABOUT IGNITE! UTAH

Ignite! Utah is a statewide Gen Z civic engagement organization building political power, civic education, and leadership pathways for young people across Utah. We believe Gen Z is not just the future of democracy, we are the now!

Through voter registration, preregistration, civic education, campus organizing, voter contact, digital outreach, candidate and issue education, and statewide research, Ignite! Utah works to make civic participation accessible, relevant, and powerful for young people.

Ignite! Utah is currently growing through two aligned entities: Ignite! Utah Action, our 501(c)(4) civic engagement and advocacy organization, and Civic Spark, our nonpartisan civic education program, which is in the process of becoming an independent 501(c)(3).

ABOUT THE ROLE

We are looking for a grounded, organized, and relationship-driven Executive Director to lead Ignite! Utah through its next stage of growth. This role is for someone who is energized by Utah, young people, and the long game of building civic power. The next Executive Director does not need to have done this exact job before, but they should be able to lead people, raise money, build trust, manage details, and keep a growing organization moving.

WHO WE’RE LOOKING FOR

• Passionate about Gen Z and our issues: you deeply understand the challenges and opportunities facing our generation
• Committed to civic engagement: you believe in the civic process, voting, and the power that it can bring to our communities.
• Experienced in equity and inclusion: you are dedicated to working with marginalized communities and know how to translate equity principles into programmatic and organizational decision-making.
• Relationship-oriented: you build strong and trusting relationships quickly and can be trusted to do what you say you will do.
• Willing to fundraise and promote the organization: you understand the importance of raising resources and building relationships to advance organizational outcomes.
• An inclusive manager: you are a thoughtful and self aware leader with experience managing individuals to achieve goals while fostering a sense of safety and belonging.
• Able to build a big tent: you understand the complexity of political organizing in Utah and the need to build diverse and unexpected coalitions to get things done for Gen Z.
• Strategic and innovative: you can discern information clearly, seize strategic opportunities for the organization, and take calculated risks.
• Flexible and adaptive: you are comfortable working in a start-up environment with some ambiguity, autonomy, and moving pieces.

Preferred, but not required

• Understanding of Utah’s civic, political, nonprofit, education, or community landscape.
• Experience leading programs, campaigns, nonprofit initiatives, civic engagement work, community organizing, or youth leadership efforts.
• Fundraising and financial experience, including donor communication, grant writing, funder relationships, or revenue planning.
• Experience with 501(c)(3), 501(c)(4), fiscal sponsorship, nonprofit compliance, campaign finance, lobbying, or election-related guidelines.
• Experience with voter registration, GOTV, canvassing, phone banking, texting, digital organizing, or civic education.
• Experience using voter engagement tools & data to inform strategy.
• Experience working with schools, colleges, or youth-serving organizations.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Organizational Strategy and Execution

• Lead Ignite! Utah’s strategy, annual planning, and continued development of Ignite! Utah Action and Civic Spark.
• Spot and seize opportunities to advance organizational outcomes through programming, fundraising, and relationship building.
• Supervise the team and help turn organizational strategy into clear priorities, timelines, and accountability systems.

Fundraising and External Partnerships

• Raise and steward a $500,000 budget with diverse and sustainable funding streams.
• Lead fundraising and external relations with donors, funders, partners, schools, campuses, coalitions, and board members.
• Direct all grant proposals and reporting to sustain partnerships with foundations, institutions, and individual donors.
• Represent Ignite! Utah publicly and tell a clear story about why Gen Z civic power matters in Utah.

Team and Organizational Management

• Oversee core programs, including civic education, voter registration, preregistration, youth leadership, research, digital outreach, and issue education.
• Responsible for directly managing 3-4 program consultants to execute their goals and work plans through regular check-ins, feedback loops, and performance reviews.
• Build a collaborative and high functioning team of 6 contractors.
• Streamline efforts to improve organizational culture and wellbeing, maintaining Ignite! Utah’s values.

Operational and Financial Health

• Responsible for the financial health of the organization, including accurately tracking revenue, expenses, monthly burn, and cash on hand.
• Lead the transition to an independent 501(c)(3) by establishing foundational systems such as human resources, payroll, board governance, and resource sharing agreements.
• Manage budgets, contracts, grant reporting, internal systems, and compliance needs in partnership with the board, fiscal sponsor, staff, and advisors.

LOCATION AND TRAVEL

Ignite! Utah is a hybrid, Utah-based organization, with offices in Salt Lake City. The Executive Director should be available for in-person meetings, school and campus visits, donor meetings, community events, coalition spaces throughout the Salt Lake Metro area, and occasional statewide and national travel.

Evening and weekend work should be expected during major programs, events, and election seasons.

HIRING STATEMENT

Ignite! Utah is an equal opportunity organization. We do not discriminate based on race, ethnicity, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, class, disability, veteran status, incarceration or conviction history, or any other protected characteristic.

Candidates from historically underrepresented communities, first-generation backgrounds, rural communities, immigrant communities, LGBTQ+ communities, communities of color, and leaders with nontraditional career paths are encouraged to apply.